Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to reorganize his cabinet as four cabinet ministers have informed the Prime Minister’s Office that they will not be seeking re-election. This adds more pressure to a government facing internal caucus dissent.
Filomena Tassi, the minister in charge of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and Sports
Minister Carla Qualtrough have both announced on social media that they will not run again.
These announcements come at a turbulent time for the prime minister, with his party consistently trailing behind the Conservatives in the polls for over a year. The
latest Nanos Research poll from Oct. 15 shows the Liberals holding 23 percent support from Canadians, compared to the Conservatives at 39 percent and the NDP at 21 percent.
Tassi
released a statement on Oct. 17 stating that she decided not to seek re-election in order to spend more time with her family. She expressed pride in the government’s accomplishments for her city of Hamilton.
Tassi thanked the prime minister for his inspiration and for entrusting her with various cabinet positions, such as deputy whip, seniors minister, and minister of public service and procurement. “I believed in him in 2015 and believe in him now,” she said.
Qualtrough stated in a press release that she recently informed Trudeau of her decision not to run again. She expressed gratitude to the prime minister for his trust in her from the beginning and felt honored to have served as the minister of employment and minister of sports.
According to 338Canada, three out of the four ministers are currently predicted to lose in their ridings. Tassi is trailing in the
Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas riding (39 percent Conservatives to 32 percent Liberals), Bibeau is behind in the Compton-Stanstead riding (33 percent Bloc Québécois to 28 percent Liberals), and Qualtrough is projected to lose in the
Delta riding (48 percent Conservatives to 31 percent Liberals).
Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet three times before, in 2018, 2021, and 2023. It is anticipated that the next cabinet shuffle may take place by the end of next week, following the Liberal caucus meeting on Oct. 23.
Internal Discontent Within the Liberal Party
Recent reports revealed that several MPs were engaged in private discussions to persuade the prime minister to step down. The Liberal Party currently lacks a mechanism for MPs to recall a leader during a mandate, and Trudeau has reaffirmed his intention to lead the party through the next election.
Trade Minister Mary Ngo expressed full confidence in the prime minister on Oct. 12 and was “
disappointed“ by the caucus revolt, while Liberal MP Anthony Housefather stated his support for ”whoever is leader of my party at all times.”
Trudeau
told reporters on Oct. 14 that there would be “time to talk about internal party intrigue at another moment,” emphasizing the need for MPs to focus on supporting Canada during the ongoing diplomatic issues with India.
Internal discontent within the Liberal Party escalated after two by-election losses in previously safe ridings, with Toronto-St. Paul’s going to the Conservatives in June and Montreal’s LaSalle-Émard-Verdun riding won by the Bloc Québécois in September.
In early September, the NDP withdrew from its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, which was intended to maintain the government in power until June 2025 in exchange for advancing NDP priorities.
Other cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations. In July,
Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan announced he was stepping down from cabinet and would not be running for re-election. In September, Pablo Rodriguez also resigned from his position as federal transport minister to serve as an Independent MP, as he intends to launch a campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party in Quebec.
Former Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra has also announced he will not be seeking re-election, while former Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett and former Justice Minister David Lametti announced they were leaving politics, prompting byelections in their ridings.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
